Open AccessComputing magnetospheric force equilibria
Author(s) -
Lemon Colby,
Toffoletto Frank,
Hesse Michael,
Birn Joachim
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
journal of geophysical research: space physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.67
H-Index - 298
eISSN - 2156-2202
pISSN - 0148-0227
DOI - 10.1029/2002ja009702
Subject(s) - magnetohydrodynamics , physics , magnetosphere , magnetohydrodynamic drive , classical mechanics , dissipation , mechanics , magnetic field , cartesian coordinate system , statistical physics , mathematics , geometry , thermodynamics , quantum mechanics
We describe a method to compute three‐dimensional force equilibria in the Earth's magnetosphere. The method is embodied in a code called the MagnetoFriction code which solves a set of ideal magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations that are modified to include a frictional dissipation term in the momentum equation. The friction takes the form of a force which is directed against the fluid motion and is therefore an energy sink. This allows the system to settle into a minimum energy equilibrium. A nonuniform cartesian grid is used along with initial conditions supplied by empirical magnetic field and pressure models. These initial conditions do not, in general, satisfy the force balance condition , and the code must iterate until approximate force balance is achieved. Pressure and magnetic field solutions are presented for several different configurations of the magnetosphere.